Don’t worry, diesel fans, the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze sedan is still on schedule to receive the 1.6-liter diesel engine from Opel. The “whisper diesel” program hasn’t been skewed by the fallout from Volkswagen’s emission scandal. In fact, Chevrolet plans to capitalize on it.
But, there has been one thing to deter diesel buyers: low oil prices. Automotive News caught up with General Motors powertrain head, Dan Nicholson, where he discussed the diesel program in particular.
While the 2016 Cruze sedan is full steam ahead, engineers are rethinking the idea of a diesel for the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze hatchback.
Although GM did not specifically say oil prices were an outside threat to the possibility of a 2017 Cruze hatchback diesel, Nicholson did note the U.S. would be the only market to require the selective catalytic reduction, or SCR, system needed to control emissions. That, in the end, could cause pricing to enter territory consumers may not want to pay.
Add in the fact the 2017 Cruze hatch will only be sold in LT and Premiere trim levels, and a diesel option could make for one expensive hatchback.
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Don’t take that choice out of customers hands. I think there is plenty of customers that will buy a well equipped diesel Cruze. Don’t skimp on a manual transmission either.
Chevy should stay on course with the diesel option as the engine provides a lot of grunt and gives the Cruze near hybrid mileage.
The issue is also a return on investment. As the article mentions due to the stringent U.S. diesel emission requirements it would require proprietary re-engineering to upgrade it to comply.
Then factor in an already significantly high price for the Cruze Hatch plus consistently low fuel prices and it would seem like a wise choice to exclude a hatchback diesel at this time.
I agree with Greg, let the marketplace, not some bean counter decide the fate of the diesel. If the bean counters were as smart as they thought they were the hatchback would be the one getting the diesel. In Europe, as well as the States the Hatchback is about 20% of the market. It’s simple, the rental car people will buy the share of the sedans, station wagon people (like me) tend to buy the hi-line models (think 1 or 2 LT) and would buy the diesel. Why? Again simple, we drive/keep our vehicles longer. I’d actually thought about switching over to the diesel engine for the first time. I’m used to a 55 mpg hybrid, an the extra cost involved of the diesel engine isn’t a big deal as we hybrid drivers already pay about the same difference to move up to a hybrid. Maybe GM is worried that a Cruz Hatchback Hybrid will eat into the Volt/Bolt business?
Hatchbacks, in the U.S., is not 20% of the market at all. Not even close, yet.
Letting can not be the factor since they is a significant cost to engineering the Cruze Hatch for the U.S. market.
It is cost prohibitive. That’s the point.
40% of Ford Focus’ sold last year were hatchbacks. They don’t make up 20% of the market, simply because not every model is offered as hatch, but they represent quite a chunk of sales for models that are offered as one.
I disagree with you about cost and engineering statements. Cruze hatchback is a done deal. It’s coming to US. Cruze sedan diesel is a done deal. It’s coming as well. Cruze hatchback diesel is a done deal as far as engineering. It’s not like once they make up their mind to offer one there will be added cost to create one. GM North America President Alan Batey said it himself that adding the hatchback version was a “very low cost opportunity” for GM. Hatchbacks are usually priced the same as sedans.
The only reason they’re contemplating about offering one is because they decided to offer the hatchback in top two trims only and are afraid added cost of diesel engine will make the car too expensive. They like to hide the cost of the engine in lower trims. Previous Cruze could only be had w/diesel in LT1 trim, putting the price of the car just about $1K above LTZ trim.
Keep the diesel !!.. GMA, pls advise where to send deposit check (which GM Exec/Dept.) to prove commitment to a vehicle purchase !! ..hey if it would help would do it.
Saw the car at the NAIAS…4 men standing around as I was taking a few pics…ALL agreed 5 door WITH DIESEL would be a great family road trip, vacation, Costco run vehicle (I hear Costco is adding diesel pumps).
This would be an incredible misstep. Similar to not offering the hatchback in the US at all for the first gen Cruze.
However, I take issue with this statement: “Nicholson did note the U.S. would be the only market to require the selective catalytic reduction, or SCR, system needed to control emissions. That, in the end, could cause pricing to enter territory consumers may not want to pay.”
All vehicles in the EU for 2018.5 move to the more stringent diesel emissions requirements – requiring the use of an SCR system. They will have to release the vehicle with that system by 2018.5, and considering the vehicle currently is not released, it might as well be developed with SCR off the bat, instead of releasing A) a NA variant *with* SCR, B) an EU variant *without* SCR for one or two years and then C) an EU variant *with* SCR to meet emissions requirements. Simply merging option A and C, which would essentially be the same anyway, would drop complexity (and thus cost) immensely.
To do otherwise would just be ignorant.
Very Bad Ideal….
I do not know all of the tech talk type stuff, but I do know what kind of a car I would like to drive. I’ve loved the 2016 Cruze since it was debuted, and then fell in love with the 2017 hatch. I would LOVE to own the hatch in a diesel! Enough said. So GM, just do it!
And yet they wont do the hatch in lower trims which is as bad as the original diesel Cruze only being a top trim equipped and priced model. They really need to get a clue.
GM you think long term and not short term. Who knows where fuel prices will be in 12, 24, 36, 48, or 60 months from now. I’m also looking for the durability of the diesel along with the better mpg. So get on with it and release the diesel version, or else I may just go with the VW diesel sport wagon instead. If you’re smart bring in a Cruze wagon version that gives better interior space like the VW Sportwagon. VW will get the diesel issues worked out and it will be back available. So it’s your decision to give me what I need or not. Not means I’ll spend my money on the VW Sportwagon diesel.
I have a diesel Jetta Wagon. I will be buying another diesel wagon in 2018. I would love to buy a GM. Please make that possible.
Me too. Please GM, for every one request for this car, there are many more silent requests in the background.
Let the consumer decide by at least offering it. This is the same mentality that failed to give us the hatch for the first gen. Cruze and have yet to offer some sort of sporty or performance version.
I live on a ranch in central california, almost bought the jetta sport wagon diesel. Something saved me! Have a diesel truck and tractor and would love a diesel car. Only thing that has stopped me is no hatchback model. My wife would love the luxury of the top end model and I would love the diesel motor since I live 50 miles from any town. Please go forward with this.
I’m young and haven’t had any new cars, but currently working on my credit in order to get a new one soon. I currently drive a used Mercedes and enjoy it but The idea of a diesel hatchback greatly grabbed my interest. But might as well be happy with a diesel sedan instead.
Loving my Cruze TDI, mid 50s highway, wish it had more room, would buy a wagon in a heartbeat